Roof decking



Aug-14, 1934.

N. P. WRIGHT 1,969,918

ROOF DECKING Filed Nov. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l I/VA 77/A/V P W/e/a/dz N. P. WRIGHT ROOF DECKING Aug. 14, 1934.

Filed Nov. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet A/ATA/A/V P l v/e/q/wt gvwentoz Patented Aug. 14, 1934 r 1,969,918

ROOF DECKING Nathan 1. Wright, Canton, Ohio, assignor to Republic Steel Corporation, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 14, 1931, Serial No. 574,988 4 Claims. (Cl. 108-13) This invention relates broadly to metallic buildalso converged at the one extremity of the strip, ing structure and more particularly to metallic forming shoulders 10. The part of the section roof decking and analogous roof or side wall covwhich lies between the shoulders 9 and 10 and ering, and a method of fabricating same. the end of the strip is the interlocking extremity 5 The invention has in view the provision of roof of the section. When the sections are laid with decking which may be fabricated from sheet or their ends overlapping, as shown in Fig. 4, the plate metal in the form of strips or units having cooperating interlocking extremities of each seca particularly advantageous and novel reinforction fit into one another with the end of one secing and interlocking rib construction, and a novel tlon preferably abutting against the shoulders 9 w method of forming such ribs. The decking is and 10. This forms an interlocking, firmly preferably attached to the supporting structure braced overlapping joint which provides a maxiby means of fasteners which are adapted to the mum of resistance against distortion or bending contour of the side ribs of the deck strips or units of the end portion of the sections should a weight and may be easily and quickly applied, and when be imposed thereon.

E5 in place, hold the decking securely in position In order that the interlocking extremities of without interfering with the interlock of the the sections may lie flush with one another, it is strips. desirable that the rib 6 and intermediate ribs 8 The various features of novelty and advantage of each section be of substantially the same depth will become apparent in view of the following dethroughout the length of the section. Since the 30 scription taken in conjunction with the drawings, channels which define the greater length of the wherein:- ribs 8 are made relatively narrow to provide a Figure 1 is a plan view of a section or unit of practical reinforcing rib construction, it is essendecking constructed in accordance with the intial that the interlocking extremities of these ribs vention; be still narrower in order that they will fit into 35 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a section in a the end portions of the ribs of the section in end partially fabricated condition; alinement therewith. The side walls of the nar- Fig. 2a is a sectional view taken on the line rowed extremities of these ribs are, therefore, 2a-2a of Fig. 2; substantially together or in contact so that it is Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the impractical to stamp out these extremities during section in finished condition; the fabricating operation.

Fig. 3a is an end view, as indicated by the line I have devised a method of forming the ribs 8 3a-3a of Fig. 3; and, and rib 6 which involves a minimum of time and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the extremities labor and-which at the same time ensures uniform of two interfit i g Sections, Showing the manner depth of said ribs throughout their length. This 35 of laying same on the skeleton framework of a method consists in first stamping or otherwise building. forming each section 5 with a rib 6 and reinforc- Referri o t drawings, the fe c uing ribs 8 of substantially the same width but of meral 5 generally indicates n Section Strip of less depth at one extremity of the strip, namely, deck 0f Channel-like C(Jhfigumtion Which t the interlocking extremity, as will be seen from be made f any Suitable length and Width, Figs. 2 and 2a, showing a section after the stamppendi g up Specifications 0f the Customer; ing operation. This diiference in depth leaves these Sec ions 0 Strips preferably being machine a certain amount of slack metal between or in the fabricat a by Stamping in finished form at the region of the shallow portions of-the ribs at one mill. The one side of each section is formed with extremity of the section, as. indicated at 12 in V 45 an interlocking rib 6, while the other side is Fig. 2, t amount of slack being substantially formed with a S raig t We depending flange equal to the amount of contraction to be given The body po of the Strip 5 intermediate the the ribs. The stamping die is preferably given rib 6 and t e depending flange 7 is Provided With sufiicient clearance at one extremity to permit a plurality 0f fiat Portions which a Connectsuch slack. Preferably by a separate operation,

fi d by i t ral s 8 of reverselv n metel- A the side walls of the shallow portions of the ribs 0 number of these ribs m y b provided, as indi- 8 and 6 are pinched together, drawing the slack cated. At the one eXt 'e y 0f the unit Strip. metal taut and increasing the depth of said ribs the rib 6 is converged, forming shoulders 9, the to substantially the same depth as the remaining said rib being of reduced width from these shoulportions thereof. Due to the slack metal, there ders to the end of the section. The ribs 8 are is a minimum of resistance to contraction so that 1 the bottom walls of the ribs drop into alinement without slipping of the metal on the pinch dies; Upon the completion of the second operation, the strip is in the form shown in Fig. 3 with the bot tom and top of each rib 6 and intermediate reinforcing ribs 8 lying in the same longitudinal plane.

Fig. 4 shows a method of laying the decking. As heretofore specified, the strips are laid with their extremities in interlocking relation. The decking is secured to the framework, such as the rod beams 14, by means of fasteners 15. These fasteners are preferably made in two parts, a base 15a and a double U-shaped clip portion 15b. The base and U-shaped portion could obviously be made in one piece but in this instance the base is attached to the U-shaped portion by welding or in any suitable manner. The base is bent around the beams 15, while the upper double U-shaped portion fits into the interlocking extremities of the rib 6 with the top projecting vertically. When the adjacent sections are laid side by side, with the side wall or depending flange 7 fitting into the ribs 6, the ends of the clip or fastener are then bent over onto the adjacent strips or towards the observer as viewed in Fig. 4.

What I claim is:

1. A metallic roof or deck structure comprising cooperative interfitting strips of sheet metal, each being of channel configuration and including a plurality 'of flat portions connected by integral ribs of reversely bent metal, the width of the ribs being reduced at one end to lit in the ribs 01 the adjacent strip.

2. A metallic roof or deck structure comprising cooperative interfitting strips of sheet metal, each being of channel configuration and including a plurality of flat portions connected by integral ribs or reversely bent metal. the width or the ribs being reduced at one end to fit in the ribs or the adjacent strips, said ribs being of substantially the same height for the full length of the strip.

3. A metallic roof or deck structure, comprising cooperative interfltting strips of sheet metal, each being of channel configuration and including a plurality of flat portions connected by integral ribs of reversely bent metal, the width of the ribs being reduced at one end and the width of the flat portions being correspondingly enlarged so that the reduced ribs will fit in the ribs of the adjacent strip with the enlarged fiat portions fitting over the flat portions of the adjacent strip.

4. A strip of sheet metal for root or deck structure oi channel-like configuration having a plurality of flat portions extending for the full length thereof and reversely bent open topped ribs between and integrally connecting the flat portions, the ribs being of decreasedwidth and the flat portions being correspondingly increased in width at one end of the strip, said ribs being of substantially the same height from end to end.

NATHAN P. WRIGHT. 

